Christian university considers changes to LGBT hiring practices

Same-sex marriage and other equal rights for LGBTs are a hot topic of debate spanning the country. Now those debates have reached Eastern Mennonite University, a Christian school located in America’s Bible belt.

Currently, new hires are required to sign a “community life commitment” affirming the signee understands that a marriage is only between a man and a woman. In addition to restrictions on LGBT candidates for same-sex marriage, they are also restrain employees from engaging in sexual relationships.

“They are required to sign a community lifestyle commitment,” says Eastern Mennonite University President Loren Swartzendruber. “In doing so, they recognize their responsibility as a member of the community to refrain from sexual relationships outside of marriage.”

But the board of trustees has established a six-month “listening process,” where officials will investigate their hiring policies for LGBT employees.

During the six-month period, opinions and perspectives from the student body, faculty and the surrounding community will be heard and factored into a final decision.

“It’s really a world view issue more than it is one group takes the Bible seriously or not. And that is complicated,” Swartzendruber says. “The traditionalist will tend to identify certain scriptures and interpret them rather literally and the progressives will tend to quote other scriptures that speak more about … God’s love for all people.”

Jeremiah Hines, a first year student at Eastern Mennonite, opposes the change in school policies.

“As a Christian university and organization is very clear in their statement that a marriage is between a man and a woman. And if they change how they want to do that, they would have to change how they represent themselves to the public,” says Hines, who is studying English education.

Despite the differences in views, the student body has communicated about the issue.

“I think it’s really good we’re having this discussion as a community and the university not making the decision on their own,” Hines says.

Chris Parks, a junior at Eastern Mennonite University is a biblical and theater double major, brings another perspective to the table. He’s an openly gay African American who hopes to one day become a minister and educator.

“One day hopefully after going to seminary school, I can become a pastor,” Parks says.

He’s part of the Safe Place student organization formed as a support group that educates and advocates for LGBT students.

Parks has been apart of other advocacy efforts, in 2012 he participated in the “equality ride” with 15 other adults from Philadelphia to San Francisco. The purpose was to engage universities in conversation, much like EMU’s community discussion today.

For Parks, it’s about being, “unified as the church and as a community and still have an abundant diversity.”

“If I’m created and you are created, that makes us both apart of that creation. Before we can talk about our differences, we need to recognized our shared creations,” Parks said.

President Swartzendruber doesn’t believe a consensus would be reached after the six month listening process; same-sex relationships and marriage has been a topic that churches and the public have been wrestling with for decades.

“It would be arrogant for us to think that after six months we’re going to have some kind of answers to which we all can come to consensus,” Swartzendruber said.

“We believe is best for this institution for this particular point in history. … People will disagree with whatever decision that is made,” Swartzendruber said.

The final decision in May not only decides the universities new direction, but for Parks as well, “One thing that this policy change will create, it will create the opportunity for me to choose whether I actually can or cannot find myself in a position in the church setting.”

“Right now, as it stands, there is no room for me, as an African-American queer person within the church setting,” Parks says, “And as it stands right there is no room for me in the university setting if I ever decide to become a professor.”

Tom Prigg is a contributing writer for USA TODAY College and a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh. He currently writes on subjects of economics, geo-politics and science.

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